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The comic book naratives of superheroes wrestle with profound and disturbing issues in original ways: the definitions of good and evil, the limits of violence as an effective means, the perils of enforcing justice outside the law, the metaphysics of personal identity, and the definition of humanity.Superheroes and Philosophy tackles these and other philosophical questions in an intellectual yet engaging way suitable for any comic book fan.

Men in Bright Tights and Wild Fights, Often at Great Heights, and, of Course, Some Amazing Women, Too!

ix

Part One The Image of the Superhero

1

(42)

1. The Real Truth about Superman: And the Rest of Us, Too

MARK WAID

3

(8)

2. Heroes and Superheroes

JEPH LOEB and TOM MORRIS

11

(10)

3. The Crimson Viper versus the Maniacal Morphing Meme

DENNIS O'NEIL

21

(8)

4. Superhero Revisionism in Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns

AEON J. SKOBLE

29

(14)

Part Two The Existential World of the Superhero

43

(102)

5. God, the Devil, and Matt Murdock

TOM MORRIS

45

(17)

6. The Power and the Glory

CHARLES TALIAFERRO and CRAIG LINDAHL-URBEN

62

(13)

7. Myth, Morality, and the Women of the X-Men

REBECCA HOUSEL

75

(14)

8. Barbara Gordon and Moral Perfectionism

JAMES B. SOUTH

89

(13)

9. Batman and Friends: Aristotle and The Dark Knight's Inner Circle

MATT MORRIS

102

(16)

10. The Fantastic Four as a Family: The Strongest Bond of All

CHRIS RYALL and SCOTT TIPTON

118

(12)

11. Comic-Book Wisdom

MICHAEL THAU

130

(15)

Part Three Superheroes and Moral Duty

145

(76)

12. Why Are Superheroes Good? Comics and the Ring of Gyges

JEFF BRENZEL

147

(14)

13. Why Should Superheroes Be Good? Spider-Man, the X-Men, and Kierkegaard's Double Danger

C. STEPHEN EVANS

161

(16)

14. With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: On the Moral Duties of the Super-Powerful and Super-Heroic

CHRISTOPHER ROBICHAUD

177

(17)

15. Why Be a Superhero? Why Be Moral?

C. STEPHEN LAYMAN

194

(13)

16. Superman and Kingdom Come: The Surprise of Philosophical Theology

FELIX TALLON and JERRY WALLS

207

(14)

Part Four Identity and Superhero Metaphysics

221

(46)

17. Questions of Identity: Is the Hulk the Same Person as Bruce Banner?

KEVIN KINGHORN

223

(14)

18. Identity Crisis: Time Travel and Metaphysics in the DC Multiverse

RICHARD HANLEY

237

(13)

19. What's Behind the Mask? The Secret of Secret Identities

TOM MORRIS

250

(17)

Wow! It Could Be the Greatest Gathering of Minds in Comic-Book History! Hold on to Your Hats and Get Ready for the Bios of Your Life!